And No. 1
Sara Scott shows off her winning first place ribbon and prizes in the Kids' Day "Little Pirate Lookalike Contest." Sara is congratulated by Privateer Tim "Hammer" Thompson, who chaired this year's event. Islander Photo: Bonner JoyClick image to enlarge

Winners all ...
The youngest contestants at the 51st annual Anna Maria Island Privateers Snooks Adams Kids Day at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria hop, hop, hop to the finish line in the "sack race." Islander Photo: Elizabeth Christie-ClineClick image to enlarge

Anna Maria's planning and zoning board took shots at City Attorney Jim Dye for a Feb. 18 opinion he gave that will allow five single-family homes to be built along Pine Avenue in the city's retail-office-residential area, without accompanying retail-office space. The lots are on the site of the former Island Marine.

There's nothing like a little optimism to jump-start an improvement project along Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach that will add needed sidewalks, beach access areas and even pavilions along the scenic corridor.